Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Using augmented reality to help us learn about astronomy

Our class is very fortunate to have three ipod touches available for learning.

Today we took a bit of time out from out literacy block to have a look at the Transit of Venus through both live links to telescopes around the world. Lachlan had a great idea to track the progress of Venus across the sun by putting markers on the board.

The Year 8s also use Sky View, an augmented reality app to help us 'see' the Transit even though the weather was rotten. Simply by pointing the ipod in any direction we can see the location of different stars, planets, the sun and even the international space station.

I wonder how the Transit of Venus looked in the Northern Hemisphere.

Can anyone name the famous explorer who noted a previous Transit of Venus on his way around the Pacific.